How to land a primetime BBC1 TV series with NO past credits

Three years ago Rob Thorogood had spent a decade writing scripts, sold one spec that went no-where and had one radio play commissioned. He was at the edge of sanity. His relationship with his wife and kids was strained. What else could he do?

And that’s when he made a choice. To find someone who could get his work produced. Not play lip service to that idea but to make that his PRIME OBJECTIVE…

Next Tuesday, ‘Death In Paradise’, starring Ben Miller, premieres on BBC1, a series that Rob pitched to Tony Jordan at Red Planet three years ago, that the BBC subsequently commissioned, and that Rob ended up writing the majority of episodes for.

Talk about zero to hero!

His story is both instructional and inspirational. I asked Rob (bio here) to record this podcast with me. I hope you find it as exhilarating and inspiring as I did…

Download the script for episode 3 of Death In Paradise, KNOCKIN’ ON HEAVEN’S DOOR by Robert Thorgood here, courtesy of the BBC writers room.

Onwards and upwards!

Chris Jones
My movies www.LivingSpiritGroup.com
My Facebook www.Facebook.com/ChrisJonesFilmmaker
My Twitter @LivingSpiritPix


 

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6 Responses to How to land a primetime BBC1 TV series with NO past credits

  1. Norman Revill October 21, 2011 at 4:47 pm #

    Great podcast, truly inspiring. So my equally tortuous ten year writing ‘career’ can have a happy ending – thank you Rob! Such a nice-sounding chap too, but then any writer who can slip Kierkegaard and Woody Allen into the same conversation has to be well worth his salt. Thanks guys.

    • Chris October 21, 2011 at 4:49 pm #

      Thanks Norman, yep Rob is one of the nicest people I know, which makes his success even sweeter. Hope you can make the festival as he will be there, propping up the bar!

  2. Sue Everett October 21, 2011 at 5:27 pm #

    Great podcast – so much good sense and insight. Thank you

    • Chris October 21, 2011 at 5:30 pm #

      Hey thanks for commenting. Seems a long time since that boat in Cannes!

  3. John Morrison October 24, 2011 at 9:36 pm #

    Superb podcast. Great sense spoken with fine insights into the machinations of getting a show finally produced. Heart warming to find a fellow struggler succeeding. I’ve also knocked my head aginst a wall for ten years with two radio plays produced. That means I’m therefore twice as likely to succeed. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Doesn’t it?

  4. John Morrison October 24, 2011 at 9:38 pm #

    Ooops, gave wrong email in my previous submission.

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